The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-27
MR.. CROWLEY.
A Distinguished Foreigner at New
York Central Park.

Correspondence Of the Press.]
New YORK, Dec "a.
Among the distinguished foreigners who
have taken up residence in New York Is the
eccentric and interesting Mr.. Crowley. Roy
and determined to pay our respects to him
last Saturday morning. We had to make
the most of our time in order to reach Mr..
Crowley's home in Central Park by ten
O'Clock, the hour when his daily receptions
begin. Our particular hurry was to be there
in time to see him eat his breakfast There
was considerable delay before we were ad-
mitted to the presence, but eventually all
obstacles were removed, and we stood face
to face with Mr.. Crowley, who, l grieve to
say, acted very badly just upon our entrance.
A group of well-dressed and well-bred boys
stood before him deeply interested in all
that concerned him, when without warning
the distinguished Mr.. Crowley opened his
mouth and spat into the group, provoking
amazement and wrath. His circle of admir-
ers rapidly retreated, and observed that all
the boys held themselves in readiness to fly
after that whenever Mr.. Crowley looked at
them. 1t gave us an uncertain feeling to-
ward bin, but we reflected that was probably
the custom in his country. We found other
wise he was quite agreeable. Our inability.
to speak his language was bar to converse
tion with him, but he did not seem annoyed
to have us look at him a good deal, especially
while he was eating-a proceeding that under
some circumstances would be quite on par
with his splitting exploit.
His breakfast was served by his valet, or
perhaps keeper is a more exact term to apply
to the kindly spirit who has presided over
Mr.. Crowley's welfare since his birth. A
small square oaken table was set in the mid
die of his room and chair being placed at
its side Mr.. Crowley hoped nimbly into it,
and awaited events. A plate Of rice and
milk having been put before him, he began
to eat Immediately. holding spoon in his
right hand, and napkin in his left. both of
which he used appropriately. When the rice
and milk were almost gone, he tipped the
plate so that he could more conveniently fill
his spoon. believe he left the glazing upon
the plate, but there could have been nothing
more. His next course was banana peeled
which was eaten deftly with a knife and
fork. He remainded me Of Chaucer's lady
where
He wette hire fyngrss In hire sauce deepe."
/ blushed as / recalled scenes in railway
restaurants where sons Of the soil were not
half so well-bred as the .'furriner" Crowley.
While my face was still suffused with the
blush for my country-men, Mr.. Crowley
created diversion by skipping down from
his chair, rushing across the room wildly and
finally entrenching himself under his table,
from whence no Establishments could entice
him. When all else failed, his attendant
g. L. III L.
move. But when the whip appeared he
made haste to climb in his chair. He did
not, however, wholly escape the c0nse-
quences Of his escapade, as his attendant,
putting his hands under Mr.. Crowley's arms,
ra.sed him and let him down bard, quite in
the manner of the exasperated American
mother.
The breakfast being resumed, a mug of
milk was delicately emptied, the process be-
ing accompanied by vigorous use Of the
napkin, which was held in his left hand as a
school boy is wont to hold his handkerchief,
crushed into the smallest possible compass.
After milk came long bottle which seemed
to please Mr.. Crowley. He held a large
spoon in his hand while 1t was filled from
the bottle, and after he had eaten what was
in the spoon he locked wistfully for more,
which was denied him. l was told that the
delicacy was cod liver oil, which he is ordered
to take constantly. Our climate is so much
colder than that of his native Africa that
great care HAS W DC lthCH W pACcChfO al
equable temperature for him.
/ have not yet mentioned his wife, Kitty
Crowley, who was during all this time
swinging noisily in an adjoining apartment,
sometimes standing unexpectedly on her
head, sometimes rushing forward to the
front of her cage and suddenly thrusting
her arm and hand through the bars, fright
ening the unwary. l was interested in the
momentary glimpse l had OF the lines OF
her palm, which by its heart line seemed to
tlxf NJ rniUhf frt.cf in, har
sincere love for him docs the fact that they
fought so hard that they had to separated
controvert her line Of the heart?) and by its
head line gave one respect for her intellect
ual ability. Her husband seemed pleased TO
have friendly faces about him, ana at the
first sound of approaching footsteps he left
everything to catch the first glimpse of the
newcomers, and scanned them thoroughly
before he turned away with an undehnaDle
something Of disappointment In his manner
that led me to suspect that he waits and
watches for some one in particular. Is there
a beloved father or tenderly-lOved brother
and PLAYMATE in that far-off land, whose
coming would cheer the heart OF this
stranger in our midst, whose four pig, marry
fingers and small thumb would lovingly
clasp the hand of Mr.. Crowley. who would,
in language strange, communicate to him
his views Of America and its institutions
What "World" reporter could worm himself
into that confidence? Should we seem In
removed as we undoubtedly feel, or should
we be electrified by hearing that the apes
winked at the reporter and said You're
another?" =,
After seeing this wonderfully human-like
animal one involuntarily balances the pros
and cons of the Darwinian theory. The
| interest he creates is far greater than that OF
a clever, educated monkey. IL is his resem-
blance to the human species, which Is Dy
turns grotesque or pathetic, that holds one
fascinated. At times it seems as II there
were the soul of a man in him striving
| anxiously to burst the fetters of his absurd
| environment. At other times, he seems q
| ridiculous parody of man. ! might add
| that he is four years old, about the height OF
| boy of 10, with arms OF disproportlonate
| length and unusual strength. He Is un-
| questionably the most interesting animal In
| theCentral Park menagerie, which is unus-
| ually attractive this winter.
MARGARET MoRELAND.